Information for Current Students in Medical Imaging

Advising Information
Announcements
Contact Information
Office Hours
Resources and Information
Student Information Handbook

• MyIUP
• Academic Support
• Coursework at Other Colleges and Universities
• Completing a Minor
• Learn More about Nuclear Medicine Technology
• Application to a Nuclear Medicine Program
• Your Clinical Year

Announcements and News

Make a commitment to academic success this semester and set a goal to make the Dean's List! To achieve this status you must earn at least a 3.25 GPA for the semester. Check the Department of Undergraduate Studies and Student Success website for the spring schedule of tutorials, supplemental instruction sessions, and workshops designed to help students prepare, advance, and excel.

Contact Information

Allied Health Coordinator Office Hours for the Fall 2019 Semester

Tuesday: 8:00-10:30 a.m.
Wednesday: 8:30-10:00 a.m.
Thursday: 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Appointments are appreciated.

Allied Health Department Office Hours

Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m.-Noon
1:00-4:30 p.m.

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Advising Information

Your Advisor

The Allied Health Coordinator is the academic advisor for all nuclear medicine technology students.

Registration

Registration for the winter session and spring semester begins in mid-October. Registration for fall semester and summer sessions begins in mid-March. Schedules are available through MyIUP and are typically posted several weeks before the registration period begins.

Nuclear medicine technology students receive early registration time each semester and are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to get the best schedule possible. Students must schedule an appointment to meet with the allied health coordinator each semester to discuss academic progress and plans for the next semesters. At that meeting students will receive their alternate Personal Identification Number (PIN) needed to access the registration system. Students may view the date and time when they can begin to register by logging into MyIUP. Sign-up times for advising appointments are posted in mid-February and mid-September and advisees are notified by email when advising appointments begin.

Email

While students are in their clinical year, advising information is typically shared by email and regular mail.

Students are expected to check their IUP email frequently and use their IUP email address when sending email to anyone in the IUP community. Important and helpful information is sent to students from the coordinator, secretary, registrar, and others. Assistance with the use of the IUP email system and other technology support is available at the IT Support Center.

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Resources and Information for Nuclear Medicine Technology Students

MyIUP

MyIUP provides links to a wide variety of information and resources including the academic calendar, schedules, financial aid and billing, grades, how to calculate a grade point average (GPA), and details about graduation. A link to writing-intensive courses is also available on MyIUP.

Academic Support

Tips for success

• Get organized: Keep a detailed calendar with assignment due dates, exams, and other important dates. Block off study time and prepare for exams and assignments in advance.
• Make academic success a priority: Do your work first and there will be plenty of time for getting involved in campus, community, and social activities.
• Seek Help to Succeed and Excel: IUP offers outstanding academic support services that help students be successful in their classes. Meet with your professors during their office hours and take advantage of workshops, supplemental instruction, tutors, and the Writing Center.
  • Department of Developmental Studies
  • Writing Center
  • Additional assistance is also available for math, chemistry, and physics courses. Contact the allied health coordinator for more information.: 243 Johnson Hall, 724-357-3257.

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Coursework at Another College or University

Many students plan to take courses during the summer at other colleges or universities. This excellent strategy allows students to take a lighter course load during the academic year, pursue a special area of interest, or stay on track for the clinical year. Students interested in registering for courses at other colleges or universities should follow the steps listed below:

1. Meet with the allied health coordinator to discuss options.
2. Use the Online Credit Evaluation System to check course equivalency.
3. Contact the other college or university for details about schedules, registration, tuition, etc.
4. Submit an Application for Pre-Approval of Coursework At Another College or University (form is available in the department office).
5. Earn a C or higher grade to have credits posted to IUP transcript.
6. Request an official transcript be sent to IUP Admissions Office, Credit Evaluation, 117 Sutton Hall, 1011 South Drive, IUP, Indiana, PA 15705.
7. If you cannot find an equivalent course, ask the allied health coordinator about possible substitutions.
8. If you plan to complete BIOL 150 Human Anatomy and/or BIOL 151 Human Physiology at another college or university you must be certain the courses are equivalent to the IUP courses. Many colleges and universities offer these courses as Anatomy and Physiology I and II. If so, you must complete both I and II at that college or university to have the courses posted to your IUP transcript as BIOL 150 and BIOL 151.

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Consider Completing a Minor

With 18 credits of free electives built into the curriculum, many nuclear medicine technology students consider a minor. A full listing of minors and certificates offered at IUP is a good place to begin the minor selection process. A minor in Safety Sciences is an excellent option that may improve job opportunities for graduates either upon entry into the career or at some point when the graduate is interested in exploring career advancement options.

Learn More About Nuclear Medicine Technology

Program directors at the affiliating nuclear medicine programs encourage students to learn about the field. Consider the following actions that will help you become acquainted with the profession:

• Tour one or more nuclear medicine departments: Contact any hospital and inquire about a tour and/or shadow experience
• Contact program directors of the affiliating schools of nuclear medicine technology for an appointment or to learn more about a specific program
• Ask the allied health coordinator how to contact a student currently in the clinical year who is available to answer questions and offer suggestions
• Become familiar with your future professional organizations
  • The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
  • American Society of Radiologic Technologists

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Application Process for Admission to a Nuclear Medicine Program

Plan to meet with the allied health coordinator during the spring semester of the sophomore year to review the application process.

The nuclear medicine technology curriculum is divided into preclinical and clinical study. Students typically finish the first three academic years of study on the IUP main campus. To complete the program, students enter the clinical phase of the program that is one calendar year in length. Students have two options for completion of the clinical phase. Students may apply to either the Nuclear Medicine Institute at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, or to the Nuclear Medicine Technology program at the Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Students admitted to NMI spend four months at the University of Findlay and study the theory of nuclear medicine. The program includes 32 weeks of clinical practice in one of the many affiliating sites and a return to NMI for a review week and final examination. Information on approved NMI affiliate clinical sites provides detailed information about clinical training options.

Students admitted to CCAC spend 12 months in the Pittsburgh area. Classes are taught at CCAC's Allegheny Campus and clinical practice includes rotations in three of 13 affiliating hospitals.

Upon graduation, the students earn a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in nuclear medicine technology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Admission Requirements for the Certificate Program

Students may apply to either or both affiliating certificate programs. Each program has specific admission requirements, deadlines and other special requirements which may include health screening, criminal record checks, personal interviews, and the purchase of uniforms and/or lab coats.

Admission into both programs is competitive and is not guaranteed.

All pre-clinical courses required by IUP must be completed before progressing to the certificate year.

Nuclear Medicine Institute

Students must complete all course requirements set forth by IUP prior to beginning the certificate year. NMI requires C grades or better in the following courses:

• MATH 105 - College Algebra
• ENGL 101 - Composition I
• ENGL 310 - Public Speaking
• CHEM 101 - College Chemistry I
• PHYS 111 - Physics I Lecture
• BIOL 150 - Human Anatomy
• BIOL 240 - Human Physiology
• Humanities course: could be in any of the following areas: philosophy, literature, art forms (art, music, theater or other performing arts), cultural expressions, global education, ancient literature, film studies, communication studies (this would be an additional course to the speech/oral communications course that is also required), foreign language, gender studies, humanities, history, or religion.
• Social Science course: could be in any of the following areas: anthropology, archaeology, behavioral sciences, criminal justice, demography, development studies, economics, education, environmental studies, geography, gerontology, international education, international relations, law, liberal arts, library science, linguistics, political science, psychology, public administration, social sciences, social work, or sociology.

For the most favorable review of the application, students are encouraged to have completed all of these courses before the application deadline.

In addition, NMI requires:

• Official high school transcripts
• Current, official college transcripts
• CPR certification
• Three letters of reference
• Application fee
• Medical Terminology: The medical terminology requirement may be met in one of two ways:
  • Online Medical Terminology 101: For approximately $75 student may enroll in an online course. A copy of the certificate of completion must be forwarded directly to NMI.
  • Medical Terminology Work Book: Purchase the following text, which is available through the IUP Co-op Store: Leonard, P. (2017). Quick and easy medical terminology (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.
  • Complete all of the chapter exercises and the self-test by recording your answers in the text. Give your completed text to the Allied Health coordinator for review. The work will be reviewed, satisfactory completion of the requirement will be verified with the NMI program director. Sherry Kelly will send an email asking you to pick up your text from her office, 244 Johnson Hall.
  • It is recommended that this requirement be submitted at least two months prior to starting at NMI, although this may be done well in advance of the recommended deadline.

Students are encouraged to submit applications approximately one year prior to beginning the certificate program. Application deadline for a fall class is November 1 of the preceding year. The deadline for a spring class is April 1 of the preceding year. Additional deadlines are posted in the NMI handbook.

Community College of Allegheny County

Students must complete all course requirements set forth by IUP prior to beginning the certificate year. The application is due no later than April 1 for the following fall class, although students are encouraged to submit the application as soon as it is available. The application includes:

• CCAC Application for Admission
• CCAC Allied Health Programs Application
• College transcripts
• Completion of a three-hour shadow experience

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Information for Students in Their Clinical Year

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

Tuition and fees for the 2018-19 NMI program is approximately $31,260.

Tuition and fees for the 2018-19 CCAC program is approximately $9,000.

During the semesters students are in the NMI or CCAC certificate program, IUP bills the student each semester for a $32 registration fee.

Students may apply for financial aid during their final year through IUP's Office of Financial Aid. Amounts of awards will vary depending on several factors, including the costs of tuition and fees required by the University of Findlay and CCAC.

Grades for Clinical Courses

Grades for clinical courses for students attending the CCAC program are posted at the completion of the clinical year. In the interim, L grades (Late designation conversion) are recorded for each clinical course. Once final grades are received from the program director, the L designation is converted to IUP letter grades. Grades for the first semester of clinical courses for students attending NMI are posted at the completion of that semester.

Students receive a pass/fail grade designation for the 16-credit NMDT 434 Clinical Nuclear Medicine course.

Each affiliating school has its own listing of courses with specific course names and credit allocation. A course equivalency chart has been developed between each affiliating clinical site and IUP. This chart is used to convert courses and grades from the affiliating school to IUP course grades.

Graduation

Undergraduate students are required to apply for graduation in their next to final semester of enrollment. The graduation application is completed online.

• Students graduating in May apply online by November 15.
• Students graduating in August and December apply online by April 1.

Students will be invited to participate in the university's commencement ceremony scheduled in December of their graduation year. Students have an option to attend the university's May commencement ceremony. Details about commencement may be found on the Commencement website. Students must apply for graduation regardless of their plans to participate in IUP's commencement ceremony.

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